Joseph

Just finished my copy last night - I must say I mainly enjoyed it. I have not read Kavanagh's books before, but she seems to write with little emotion and just sort of lays the facts and stories out one after another. I read Percival's book "Theatre in my Blood" on John Cranko and appreciated getting the stories mixed in with some interpretation and feelings in regards to how this shaped the choreographer's life, future and reputation.

Regardless, I wish she had dived into some of his history performing with the Boston Ballet. There is some mention with Kenneth Grave about it and Marie-Christine Mouis, but other than that not much... When I started at BBSchool, I remember so much emphasis on the fact that he had affiliations and danced there as well. In Column McCain's Book "Dancer' I think it goes more into this very brief section of his life.

But for someone who wants stories and the gossips - it is a good book. But I can understand the sensitivities to this kind of stuff as well. For instance I was not so crazy about some of the detailed sexual situations - but some people might say this is what makes it a good book. Nevertheless it manages to inspire to some degree me as most biographies do. I'd give it a B+ / A-.

If you look on Google you'll find a Chinese site with a translation of a piece by Cranko himself about his Swan Lake which includes "..and the Drigo pas de deux in the fourth act, which always seemed too light for the situation, has been replaced by the magnificent elegy for strings". Does that sound like what you remember?

I have checked through the index in the book on Cranko and can't find mention of the music. But is this the music you remember?

WOW! That is it! Thank you so much for providing me this link! I hope they have it on ITunes!

It is really beautiful music and the pas de deux (trois) is beautiful as well...

Thank you Jane!

Joseph

Hey - I asked earlier but maybe will try this again -

Does anyone know the music which is used in John Cranko's 4th Act Swan Lake for the pas de deux (well pas de trois actually) between Odette, Seigfried and Rothbart; I am sure it is not from Swan Lake, but was billed as Tchaikovsky - must have been some arrangement of something else he composed. It is really beautiful music.

Thanks!

Music suggestions? ? ? ?

I know there are several composers (ie Delibes, Minkus, etc.) which have nice danceable scores from other ballets. But does anyone know of music they would like seen into a ballet, in particular a Snow White???

Can be more twentieth / twenty first century too! (ie. Philip Glass, etc.)

Does anyone here know which Tchaikovsky piece of music the Act IV pas de deux (between Odette, Siegfried and Rothbart at some points) from John Cranko's version of Swan Lake comes from? It is not in the original score of Swan Lake (correct me if I am wrong please...) and it is not one of the Drigo revivals from Mariinsky. It is really a beautiful piece of music...

Thanks!

Just real quick off the top of my head; Cinderella from POB may be available on DVD but not sure...?

Nureyev's choreography from 1980something I think!?

Is there a link to read this article online?

Thanks!

Some comments here mentioned "Billy Elliots..." etc. Well, I agree that there is still room for people to speak out, but chances are the only people who are interested in the article, are people who are also interested in ballet. The majority of these people are not who need to know that ballet is masculine, blah blah... It is the people who not involved with ballet. For instance, if it was a football player or a basketball player defending ballet etc. then maybe other people, not involved in ballet, would be more likely to appreciate the article. But coming from another dancer, it just seems like another dancer trying to prove something to other dancers or to himself. But, the dancers have a knowledge about it. Ok, maybe younger children and teenagers who are studying ballet will be happy to hear another male dancer talking, but it is their peers at school, etc. who need to hear it, not from another dancer, but from someone else that THEY can relate to and appreciate. No non-dancer is not likely to know who Sascha Radetsky is (not being rude...) I mean Center Stage was a good movie, but it is not something that someone in the sixth grade is going to bring up and say "oh cool that is such and such from Center Stage..." They need someone else to talk about male dancing; if needed at all.

And another thing to think about is, what is there to really defend? Part of being a "man" or a woman and entering this world is being able to cope and deal with narrow minded, ignorant stereotypes and learning to move on from it. As a kid, I do not believe I would be really inspired by this (being a dancer I mean.) Like I said earlier, if I saw it was someone else, a movie star, a sports hero, whatever - then I could bring it in to school and say "hey guys look." But from another dancer, I don't think it is going to argue much.

Sorry I had 3 people send it to me today and I had already read it 2 days ago. I find the topic rather "done to death". I know its still going on but its 2008 its time to get over such stupid stereotypes. I have plenty of boys in my school and NONE of them fit any particular stereotype. They are all different, all equally interesting, smart, sensitive, artistic, athletic the only thing that sets them apart from others is that they seem more evolved and interesting that the average kid. (maybe that is my bias). I just cannot believe that, this conversation still needs to be even needs to be brought up.

Memo - I agree with you... This article (in my opinion) is quite 'old school'. And, I am suprised that there is a still a need for defending male dancers. Who cares?

And, as a dancer, why does he feel the need to write an essay about how he loved the girls and state that some of his colleagues are gay. That is not his business nor the publics business either. There are homosexual men and women in every working environment; because ballet may be stereotyped does not give justification for those men who are heterosexual dancers a need to defend themselves. If they really are trying to prove something, then why even bother saying anything about it at all? Maybe it is more a question about maturity / immaturity?

I just don't see the need for male dancers to continually feel as though they need to defend themselves or make sure to mention in newspaper / magazine articles stuff like "well, I loved the girls of course..." Who cares?!

Anyway, just thought I would tell you I agree, Memo! There is a lot more room for discussion on this surely; will check back later...

I somehow found this site...

It is like Disney World!; but I think it is cool!

Good for children anyway!

Yes, it does! Thanks so much Natalia! This is great information!

Now, in terms of ordering from this site?...

Thanks Natalia!

Can we order these things here in America? I am sure the CDs are fine, but are the DVDs pal format?

Would be great to get some of the Vaganova Academy examinations!

Joseph

The Japanese Shinshokan publishing firm recently released a series of ballets on CD played by the St. Petersburg Moussorgsky Theater's orchestra. Among these is the complete 'Corsaire' as performed at the Maly-Moussorgsky Ballet, which is quite close to the ABT version. So finally we have a Corsaire on CD that approximates the 'Corsaire' that is being danced in the 21st century!

Link to the Shinshokan CDs page follows. Alas, only in Japanese. The Corsaire CD is about halfway down the right-hand column, with photo of a female in red and white dress, doing grand jete.

http://www.shinshokan.co.jp/dancevideo/index_dancevideo.html

Edited to add: The link seems to take one automatically to the New Releases page. So you have to click on "CD" in the pink left-hand column. Then go to the 2nd page of CDs (once you're in CDs). THEN you will see the page that I described above.

Further edited: Thanks to Josbiviano for the Polish link. Word of caution, though - this appears to be a pirating outfit that merely re-records the music from existing VHS tapes or DVDs. I may be wrong -- forgive me if so -- but that's what it appears to be. The Japanese CDs are recordings made for commercial release as CDs, much like the earlier Decca recordings led by Richard Bonynge.

Someone else will better explain - but it is not from the score of Cinderella; a friend who is a pianist informed me that it is another piano piece but it is by Prokofiev.

Just take this info for now, someone can better elaborate or explain for sure!

cool this looks interesting!

Thanks Richard!

Yeah, I am not sure what my system's capabilities are...? But, possibly it will be worth it to get a multiregion player at some point?

Talk to you soon...

I need to get this!!!

sorry, no, i meant for the dvd!

haha but thanks for the pictures

yes, i really want to get this dvd, where can i find it?! i do not see it on the website you have provided!

I can't find it on the site?!

Indeed great! Do we know what the rest of the cast will be? Bluebird, etc. etc. etc.???

I think Cranko is one of the best (if not the best) ballet story teller's of time!

And you could just make sure you make two copies of each DVD; it may take a bit longer, but will be nice to have a backup copy stored somewhere just in case.

Interesting about the labels, Marc, I didn't think of that!

I think Orlando Ballet will be seeing some great things happening in the future with Marks at the helm...

I think I want to get this!

I want to do a Great Expectations...

That is so funny Solor, I just noticed that two nights ago as well!